Last Updated/Verified: September 15th, 2023

There are various opportunities for high-school graduates to study nursing in Kansas and start a rewarding career in the healthcare sector.

Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can take as little as nine months in the “Sunflower State,” providing students with an alternative to a four-year Registered Nurse (RN) degree. Graduates can get a job at a hospital, medical center, nursing home, doctor’s office, or another healthcare facility in Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka, Great Bend, or elsewhere in the state.

LPNs in Kansas: Quick Facts

• It typically takes Kansas LPN students just 9-12 months to get an LPN certification.
• The average base salary for LPNs in Kansas is $26.16 per hour or $46,967 a year, according to Indeed.com.
• The average overtime salary for Kansas LPNs is $7,500 a year.
• The most popular benefits in the state are 401(k), referral programs, paid-time-off, license reimbursement, and tuition reimbursement.
• There will be a 0.3 percent increase in employment opportunities for Kansas LPNs from 2018 to 2028, according to research from Projections Central.

Overview of LPN Schools in Kansas

The Kansas State Board of Nursing, the not-for-profit organization accountable for regulating nursing schools in the state, has authorized 43 undergraduate pre-licensure nursing programs. High-school graduates who enroll in one of these part-time or full-time programs will learn disciplines such as:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Nutrition management
• Meditech documentation collection
• Home health management
• Patient care
• Wound care
• Vital signs collection
• Mental health management
• General nursing skills

Specialist nursing programs in Kansas cover disciplines such as pediatric and maternity care.

LPN Accreditation

As well as the Kansas State Board of Nursing, these two organizations recognize LPN schools in the state:

• The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), accountable for maintaining the educational quality of all post-secondary learning institutions in the central United States, including colleges, community colleges, and universities.
• The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), accountable for maintaining the quality of all schools at the associate, diploma, baccalaureate, and graduate levels.

LPN Admissions Requirements

Most LPN programs in Kansas require high-school graduates to have:

• A diploma. GED, or educational equivalent with a GPA of 2.75+.
• The prerequisite courses to study for an LPN program. Applicants need a C+ average.
• A proficient score on the ATI TEAS exam.

Applicants to LPN programs in Kansas also need to pass a drug test and background check. High-school graduates should check a school’s specific admissions requirements before applying for a program.

LPN Tuition & Costs

LPN students in Kanas pay for their tuition expenses and program supplies. They are also responsible for accommodation and any day-to-day expenses when living on campus.

Some healthcare providers in Kansas might reimburse students the above costs if they work for their organization after graduating from an LPN school. Also, eligible high-school graduates receive grants and financial aid to cover some or all of their tuition fees and other expenses.

Tuition fees fluctuate in Kansas depending on the school. For example, Coffeyville Community College charges $150 per credit hour, while Kansas City Kansas Community College charges $60-430 for each component of its practical nursing program.

LPN Licensing Requirements in Kansas

Earning an LPN certification in Kansas takes around 9-12 months. Graduates then can apply for state licensure. RN degrees last for four years, so enrolling in an LPN program is the quickest way to become a nurse.

Checklist to become a Kansas LPN

1. Get an LPN certification from one of the reputable schools accredited by the Kansas State Board of Nursing.
2. Apply for a license from the Kansas State Board of Nursing.
3. Get a CPR card.
4. Pass the NCLEX-PN exam.

NCLEX-PN Exam

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) regulates the National Council Licensure Examination for Practice Nurses, or NCLEX-PN, in Kansas through the Kansas State Board of Nursing. This exam ensures students have the required skills to work in a healthcare environment. Students must pass this test before working at a hospital, medical center, doctor’s office, or another healthcare provider.

LPN Reciprocity

• An LPN from another state can work as a nurse in Kansas through ‘endorsement.’ However, they must already have a nursing license.
• An LPN from abroad can work as a nurse in Kansas after passing the NCLEX-PN and receiving an evaluation from the Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).

LPN Salaries in Kansas

LPNs, on average, earn $26.16 per hour or $46,967 a year, according to Indeed. Entry-level LPNs earn an average of $44,207, while those with over ten years of experience earn $50,493.

These are the largest metro areas in Kansas with the highest average LPN salaries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

1. Kansas City, MO-KS ($47,930 per year)
2. Topeka, KS ($46,300)
3. Lawrence, KS ($44,330)
4. Wichita, KS ($43,980_
5. St. Joseph, MO-KS $42,640

An LPN with a specific certification like a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) degree can expect a higher salary than an LPN without this qualification. Kansas nurses can make more money per hour when working shifts at night, on the weekend, or on holidays.

Job Outlook for LPNs in Kansas

There is currently a shortage of nurses in Kansas. The state’s growing population and an aging nursing workforce are two of the reasons behind the deficit. As a result, healthcare providers encourage LPN graduates with benefits such as sign-on bonuses, flexible hours, and student loan reimbursement. Projections Central expects job opportunities for LPNs in the state to grow by 0.3 percent from 2018 to 2018.

Top LPN Schools in Kansas

Coffeyville Community College 
700 Roosevelt 
Coffeyville, KS 67337 
(620) 252-7550

An LPN program at a community college that blends classroom-based learning with real-world clinical experiences. The program takes a year to complete and had a 100 percent pass rate in 2019. Students learn skills such as anatomy and physiology.

Kansas City Kansas Community College
7250 State Ave. 
Kansas City, KS 
66112 (913) 288-7626

A reputable LPN program that teaches students a broad range of nursing skills for passing the NCLEX-PN exam and getting LPN jobs. These skills include medical terminology, human anatomy, human growth, psychology, caring for aging adults, mental health nursing, and safe medication administration.

Hutchinson Community College
2208 East Kansas 
McPherson, KS 
67460 (620) 245-0202

This community college prepares students for the NCLEX-RN by teaching various nursing skills in a classroom-based environment. Students can then gain hands-on experience in a clinical setting.

Butler Community College 
901 S. Haverhill Rd. 
El Dorado, KS 67042 
(316) 322-3140

A practical nursing program that provides high-school students in El Dorado and beyond with an alternative to a four-year nursing degree. Students learn the skills required for a new healthcare career and get an LPN license quickly.

Flint Hills Technical College 
3301 W. 18th Ave. 
Emporia, KS 66801 
(620) 341-1336

A nursing education program covering topics such as patient care, care plan management, vital signs collection, and more. Students learn in a supervised clinical environment and earn their certification in just two and a half semesters.

Johnson County Community College 
21201 West 152nd Street, Suite 221
Olathe, KS 66061
(913) 469-8500 x2383

Johnson County Community College fast tracks high-school grads who want to start a career in nursing with an intensive LPN program that combines classroom-based teaching and hands-on experience.

North Central Kansas Technical College
PO Box 507
Beloit, KS 67420
(785) 738-9025

Students at North Central Kansas Technical College learn the skills required for a broad range of nursing roles at hospitals, doctors’ offices, nursing homes, and other care facilities. The program takes place across two semesters so students can earn their LPN quickly.

Pratt Community College
348 NE SR 61
Pratt, KS 67124
(620) 450-2233

Pratt Community College prepares students for the NCLEX-PN with an LPN program centered on the practical and ethical challenges of working as a nurse in Kansas. Graduates get jobs in various healthcare settings.

Washburn Institute of Technology
5724 SW Huntoon
Topeka, Kansas 66604
(785) 273-7140

Students on this LPN program benefit from a mix of classroom and clinical experience and learn skills such as nursing care, vital signs collection, long-term care, infection control, and medicine administration. This intensive course prepares nursing students for the state licensure exam through coursework and practical training.

Manhattan Area Technical College
3136 Dickens Ave.
Manhattan, KS 66503 (785)
587-2800/800-352-7575

This full-time LPN program nurtures students from various backgrounds and delivers successful learning outcomes. An alternative to conventional RN degrees, students can receive an LPN certification and find graduate opportunities at local healthcare organizations.

Additional Resources

Learn more about becoming an LPN in Kansas:

Kansas State Board of Nursing: The organization responsible for regulating nursing programs in Kansas and administering the state licensure exam. Students need to pass this exam to get a job in nursing.
900 SW Jackson St # 1051, Topeka, KS 66612, USA

Higher Learning Commission (HEC): The organization responsible for the educational quality of all nursing programs including LPN courses in Kansas and the central U.S.
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604

National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN): The nationwide organization responsible for the NCLEX-PN exam.
111 East Wacker Drive, Suite 2900
Chicago, IL 60601-4277

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN): The organization responsible for maintaining the educational quality of all schools in the U.S. at the associate, diploma, baccalaureate, and graduate levels.